Excavator and loader



Feb. 14, 1939. L. J. F'ERARI 2,146,807

EXCAVATOR AND LOADER Filed March 1, 1937 Loam J Fara/r11,

Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a power shovel and is more particularly described as an attachment for a tractor of the caterpillar type.

An important object of the invention is in the provision of an attachment which may be applied to a tractor and operated by hydraulic power for a variety of digging, grading and loading operations.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of 'double acting hydraulic means in connection with a hydraulic lift. for operating an excavating bucket.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a power loader having hydraulic lifting and bucket actuating means and adapted to dig, carry, spread, level, lift and back-fill dirt and other material which is handled by an excavator and loader.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention in which- Fig. l is a side elevation of a tractor of the caterpillar type to which this invention is applied; and with which it co-operates;

Fig. 2 shows a top plan view of the invention;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary detail views illustrating different positions of the scoop o bucket in the use of the invention.

Various types of excavators are now used in which the bucket is provided with hydraulic lifting mechanism but the present invention relates to the provision of double acting hydraulic means for controlling the position and operation of the bucket or scoop in connection with the hydraulic lift. By properly positioning the bucket and connecting it to the controlling hydraulic means the bucket may be positioned and held and also overturned independently of its lifting for a variety of uses in digging, excavating and loading.

As a power shovel this invention comprises a tractor illustrated in Fig. 1 as being of the caterpillar type with a continuous supporting tread l and an engine ll mounted on a frame [2 and adapted to be moved in all directions by the engine. The specific type of tractor forms no limiting part of the present invention. From the operation of the engine hydraulic or fluid pressure is supplied to a storage tank I3 by means of a pump (not shown) in connection with the engine.

As an attachment or a part of the power shovel a pair of side beams l5 are provided, each at- 55 tached at one end by a fixed pivot l6 and at one end of the machine frame l2. The other end of each beam projects beyond the opposite end of the tractor so that a bucket l6 may be pivoted between the free ends of the beams on pivots II. The bucket preferably has a forward sharp edge I8, a rounded rear portion l9, and an open top in a plane at a sharp angle to the front edge Ill. The pivots H are connected close to the front inclined edge about midway between the top and bottom of the bucket with the majority, that is approximately two-thirds of the length of the bucket, and by far the greater capacity of the bucket, being located between the extremities of the arms IS in the loaded position as shown in Fig. 1.

In order to raise and lower the bucket, a vertical lifting cylinder 2| is positioned intermediate the ends and between the beams l5 having a plunger rod 22 projecting from the upper end carrying a pulley 23 at its upper extremity. A cable 24 passes over the pulley and is connected at one end to the machine frame 2 and at the other end to a cross piece 25 extending between the beams I5. When fluid under pressure is admitted to the bottom of the cylinder 2| the pulley and consequently the lifting beams IE, will be raised about the pivots H5 at one end. For controlling the supply of fluid under pressure to the cylinder, a hand valve 26 is connected by a pipe 21 with the supply tank l3 and by a pipe 28 with the cylinder 2|.

To position the bucket in the lifting frame comprising the beams IS a double acting piston and its cylinder 30 is located at each side of the frame 9 having a pivot 3| at the rear end about which the other end is free to move and having a piston rod 32 extending from the other end and connected by a pivot 33 to the bucket l6 at a point about midway betwen the pivot l1 and the rear rounded side of the bucket and above the mid portion of the bucket in its loaded position as'shown in Fig. 1.

Both cylinders 30 are controlled simultaneously by a single valve 34 having a fluid pressure pipe 35 leading from the supply tank to the valve by pipes 36 leading from the valve to one end of each cylinder and by pipes 31 leading from the valve to the other end of each cylinder. These pipes are shown as connected directly to the opposite ends of the cylinders and while in practice metal pipes are used with short flexible connections to the cylinders to permit their oscillating movement, this forms no specific feature of the present invention and is not shown in detail.

frame l2 within the side beams II are guide rails 40 having a cross piece ll for connecting them at their upper ends and the upper portions of these guides are bent rearwardly to offer no obstruction to the operation of the bucket or the raising cylinder.

The controlling valves 26 and 34 are positioned close together so that in practice they are easily accessible and are operated by the same person 7 who may rapidly become very proficient in the operation of the bucket. Since the cylinders 2| and 30 are operated preferably by hydraulic power, using oil, for example, as the pressure applying means, the position of the bucket and the beams may be and is maintained in any set or intermediate position as determined by the operation of the valves. The bucket may therefore be maintained at any inclination and it may be varied in its angular position in the supporting frames l5 when the frames are fixed and also when they are in motion. For example, when the side frames are lifted from the full line position shown in Fig. l to the broken line position and at the same time to maintain the bucket with its opening in substantially upright position, it is necessary to raise'the bucket by the operation of the cylinders 30 so that they will be disposed at an acute angle with respect to the beams l5 as indicated in the broken line position. When the beams are raised, or in any intermediate position, the bucket may be overturned to discharge its load by the operation of the pistons and cylinders 30.

The bucket It may also be positioned and used for various purposes at a variety of angles, a few of which are shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. In Fig. 3 with the beams IS in lowered position and the rdds 32 at a slight angle thereto, the sharp cutting edge l8 maybe variously inclined to dig more or less sharply into the surface of the ground G, depending upon the thickness of the material to be moved. At this time it will be understood that in order to fill the bucket the tractor is moved forwardly.

In the position shown in Fig. 4 the bucket is completely loaded and is resting upon the rounded portion of its base. The bucket may be moved forwardly or rearwardly in this position, either with or without a load and tends to smooth or pack down the ground or material over which it passes. In the broken line position in this figurethe bucket is shown in its inverted limiting position with the pistonrods in connection with the arms l5 since they are located on top of the beams.

The bucket may also be variously inclined with respect to the supporting arms as shown in Fig. 5 for the purpose of acting as a. forward or rearward scraper for spreading or grading, for pushing and back filling, depending upon the movement of the tractor.

Thus the present structure may be incorporated as a part of a tractor to form a power shovel and it may be applied to separate tractors as an attachment therefor. In either connection it provides a simple, effective and efficient hy- Projecting upwardly from the sides of the draulically operated shovel.

I claim: 1. A power shovel comprising a tractor having an engine for moving the tractor, a reservoir for fiuid under pressure also operated by the engine,

a shovel frame pivoted at one end of the tractor and having a shovel pivotally mounted in the frame at the other end thereof, each pivot being adjacent one edge of the side thereof, hydraulic means for raising the frame with respect to the tractor, and hydraulic means mounted on the frame at the sides of the tractor and comprising cylinders with projecting plunger rods simultaneously operable and the rods directly connected for moving the shovel about a horizontal axis and for holding it at any fixed position in the frame.

2. In a power shovel, atractor having a supporting frame, an engine carried thereby for moving the tractor, a reservoir for fluid under pressure operated by the engine, a shovel supporting frame pivoted at one end to the tractor frame and extending beyond the tractor frame at the other end, a shovel pivoted eccentrically at its sides in the shovel frame at the end beyond the tractor, hydraulic means between the shovel frame and the tractor frame for raising and lowering the shovel, and hydraulic means carried by the shovel frame at both sides thereof and including movable plungers directly in en-.-

agement with the shovel eccentrically of the sides thereof for operating the shovel independently of and at the same time the shovel frame is in motion for moving and positioning the shovel.

3. A power shovel attachment for a tractor comprising a frame adapted to be pivoted at one end to the tractor, a shovel pivotally mounted in the frame for rotation about a horizontal axis, adjacent one edge of each side of the shovel, hydraulic means for raising and lowering the frame, and hydraulic means comprising a cylinder pivoted at one end on the frame and a plunger projecting from the other end and directly engaging the shovel for pivotally engaging the side of the shovel eccentrically of the axis and also of the side thereof rotating and positioning the shovel therein.

4. In a power shovel, a supporting frame having means for horizontal pivotal attachment at one end, a bucket mounted in the frame upon a horizontal pivot at the other end, the bucket being disposed between the sides of the frame and having its pivot eccentrically at the side and adjacent the front lower edge of the bucket, the

bucket being sharp at the front vend and 

